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George visits Brian Wilson at his home. They talk about "God Only Knows." They go to the studio, break out the master tape, and George plays at the mixing board, talking it over with Brian, who is sitting next to him.

It's an interesting waste of time to consider what might have (not) become of the Beatles if they had not been picked up by George Martin. It's certain that his extraordinarily talented guidance and established reputation put The Lads on one of music history's steepest and most long-lasting international success paths. I just smile whenever I hear a Lennon/McCartney tune wafting through the air in, say, a store these days. I wonder what will be vibrating that air in, say, 40 years. Probably the same. All I know is that The Beatles were the music of my young life. Whenever I need an emotional pick-me-up I just listen to some of their tunes, particularly from the Rubber Soul period.

On Dutch Radio One, all day the spoken items were alternated with Beatle songs, in remembrance of George Martin.'In my life' (Rubber Soul) was the first one I heard this morning. On this one George Martin himself plays the piano, beautifully. It took me back 50 years to 1966, when I, a photography student of almost or just 17, bought 'Rubber Soul' the day it came out, a purchase I hardly could afford. I opted for the mono version (there was a choice in those days), as I played my records over the mono radio I had inherited from my grandfather. I still have that record and it is still playable. May George (and John, and George) rest in peace.

One of the most fascinating turns in a career has to be George Martin producing the album/band "Seatrain" in 1970 and the followup "The Marblehead Messenger" in 1971. This was an odd but successful fusion of roots, rock and country rock. They are both to this day among my favorite albums. Only George Martin could have blended this music to come out to be more than the sum of its parts.

For many of us, behind the scenes (Sir) George Martin and his talents orchestrated the music we here in North America listened to,
in our formative years.
If I am in as good condition on my passing in another twenty or so years, and equally
still enjoying myself, shall be equally thankful.

I hate to bring Nietzsche into this (mostly because of his pernicious influence) but he did say that without music life would be a mistake. For me, in less grandiose terms, life without The Beatles would be a mistake. And without George Martin there would be no Beatles - not as we know them, anyway. So, thank you, George Martin.

George also produced one of my all time favorite albums, "Blow by Blow" by Jeff Beck. An amazing musical experience.

Back in the day as a big stereo obsessed teenager I would play my music much too loud. My parents were understanding and also had many foreign guest via the People to People organization or something like that. A German couple was staying with us and the man did not speak any English so it was hard for him to be comfortable and join in. I was playing Blow by Blow on my monster stereo system very loud and after a bit he came in and wanted to know what artist was producing this wonderful music. He had never heard of Jeff Beck, but I'm sure as soon as he got home he purchased that album. George Martin was a true master producer. Thank you George!

I was a Beatles fan in the UK during my teenage years - I was 13 when She Loves You was released, so you can work out the progression. I was one of those who always bought the new single on the day it was released. (I missed Help! - I was in France on holiday, and never did manage to catch up with a copy.)

My take on it is that while George Martin was very influential and important, he was in the extraordinary position of being able mould and influence something absolutely unique. It easy to forget today just how unusual the Beatles were - principally, because they wrote their own material! In Britain at that time it was just about unheard-of for the artists to do that. Cliff Richard, the previous biggest star, never did, nor did The Shadows (they had a string of big hits on their own in the early 60s) until after the Beatles had appeared.

I'm sure the Beatles would have been successful with another producer. Their sound would have been different - perhaps they'd be the band that invented rock music rather than, say, Cream - but they would still have produced extraordinary music.

I'm 'one of those people who saw The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan Show', and my life was never the same since then.

Strangely enough, I somehow today was thinking of Sir George Martin as I would of a great portrait photographer: Someone very talented and empathetic, who could find the natural beauty in a subject, and with subtle use of his talents, turn the resulting image into something better than real life, while very quietly exhibiting the effect his talent had on that subject's portrait. Record producers have always done this, and while some leave very obvious sonic clues, for me, the very best are almost invisible yet very effective. Of course, George Martin had his 'sound' just like a Karsh portrait was far different than Avedon, but it was so very subtle yet so suited to his artists.

Just imagine being behind the glass for virtually all the Beatles' work !

What a wonderful thing were The Beatles, and what a great thing George Martin did in bringing them to us.

I was 15 in 1962 and I grew up with the Beatles. There was a time in the mid to late 60s when you only had to turn the dial to find a Beatles song on the radio.

I also remember that Beatles LPs were terrific value for money (£2/12/6d or $5.25 after 1966 in Australia) because every track was fantastic. Other groups only had a few good tracks on an LP. I feel privileged to have lived through that time, and the Sixties in general.

George Martin, the fifth Beatle, contributed significantly to the group's sound, which was constantly changing. That was one of the things that distinguished the Beatles from all other groups before and since. Every album was different stylistically. They were always stretching, exploring the boundaries, and George Martin was an important part of that.

Ken Tananka mentioned hearing Beatles songs being played as background music almost anywhere these days. I have mixed feelings about that. Yes, it means that their music may continue to heard for generations, but it also means that it has been diminished to the status of aural wallpaper, at least for many who hear it in that fashion.

Stunning photo of George Martin. Most outlets are flashing b&w pictures. Understandable, given the era of his ascendance. But this picture you have chosen: vintage feel, but fresh...those blue eyes...great shot. A young man in the early stages of a singular career...